What Should You Do If You Discover Black Mold At Your Home

Mold is a fungus that is naturally occurring in the environment, and it can be found almost anywhere in your home if there are four things present:

M- Moisture: This can be caused by many different factors including consistent humidity, plumbing issues, flooding, or even condensation from HVAC systems. If you can see moisture, chances are you already have a mold problem.

O- Odor: Have you recently been noticing that there is a musty smell in your home that just won’t go away no matter how hard you clean? Sometimes mold can be hidden and cannot be seen. If you smell a musty or earthy smell then it often will indicate that the mold is hiding, but unfortunately, a smell might not be present for all molds.

L- Leaking: This is essentially the same as moisture. If you have a leaky pipe or a leaky roof, then chances are you probably already have mold. If you see any kind of leaking water, fix it quickly. It is important to dry water-damaged areas quickly within the first 24-48 hours to completely prevent mold from growing inside.

D- Discoloration: The only sure sign that you have mold is if there is visible growth. Mold can come in all colors, shapes, sizes, and textures, so if you notice a change in the color of your drywall, carpeting, concrete, studs, or any other building material, you have a mold infestation.

Mold is a tricky fungus and can hide away in the cracks and crevices where more than likely it won’t be found until a professional comes and looks at it. Here are some common places where mold hides in the home but you may not even notice the seal of the refrigerator door, shower curtains, window moldings, surfaces around air conditioners, shower stalls, and bathroom tiles.

So what exactly do you do after finding that you do have mold? It is time to call in a team of professionals to completely eradicate the mold from your property. This can take time and a bit of money if it isn’t covered by insurance. When choosing a certified mold remediation company, you will want to make sure that they are experienced, and reputable, and will do a great job of removing the mold from your property.

A professional in the field will come out to your location and assess the situation thoroughly before giving you any type of estimate for their services. In most cases, they will also call in an IAQ company to request a test before doing any work on the property. An IAQ is an indoor air quality test, and it will give the restoration company a better idea of what solutions to use and how to approach removing the mold. After the results have come in about what strain is present on your property, they will do a full assessment of the property to pinpoint exactly where the mold is, and will then begin the job.

If you are looking for a reputable mold contractor in your area, check with AngiesList.com or friends and family, or you could also ask your insurance company for a recommendation.